Separating College v HS Teams

[Kims Robot]

I think my experience was similar to Beth's. My first year on 229, I got a lot of help & advice from my old team (176). But after that, the team started taking on its own shape, formed by how Clarkson wanted it run, and what was available to us up there.

But I think part of it too was as Dan suggested, the distance. I wasnt close enough to go to my old team's meetings personally (or I likely would have just become their mentor).

1511 was a similar "escape" from my old teams... Except this time I was given more freedom from the start. I took my favorite parts of 176 & 229, and added in some new ideas and some changes to things I didnt like and "poof" out came 1511! Not really a college team, but it was the next team I was a part of! I still follow Clarkson & 176 at events, and I even get 1511 to cheer on both of them especially when they make it further than we did. I have to say, my hardest day in FIRST was when 229 faced 1511 in the semi's in Cleveland last year... who to pick?? the rookie team that I had put my heart and soul into for the last year? or the Tough team that was the pride & joy of my college years? Maybe thats even harder than leaving a HS team for a college one!

[Tim Delles]

I wish i could put an answer to that question for myself. However I have never left 229. As a high school senior I decided that I would go to Clarkson for Mechanical Engineering, and would be able to still be on the team. However i didn't choose Clarkson because I wanted to stay on the same team, I picked Clarkson because I thought it was the best place for me. Now this whole topic is making me think of how I would have reacted going to a different college and being on a different team. Interesting.